Lineman&#39;s climbers



. Aug. 28, 1956 R. o. MclNTlRE Y LINEMANS CLIMBERS Filed May 9. 1952 %/ENTO nited States Patent O LINEMANS CLIMBERS Ross 0. Melnlire, Van Nuys, Calif.

Application May 9, 1952, Serial No. 287,021

4 Claims. (Cl. 227-27) 'I'his invention pertains to improvements in linemans climbers and more particularly to the leg irons and elements associated therewith.

To those familiar with this art, the conventional climber oifers little toward the comfort or safety of the wearer, and fatigue or accidents result from the lack of provision in the climber to reduce to a minimum or eliminate as much as possible this shortcoming.

Climbing a tree or a pole with the tang type of climber presents more of a problem than forcing the tangs into the tree or pole and traveling up or down the tree or pole. From a safety standpoint, the tang must not only penetrate the wood but should make a hole sutiicient in size only to perform the service for which it was intended. If by angular movement of the tang after it has penetrated the wood, the tang is pivoted to any degree, the hole is enlarged and may be enlarged to a point where it could allow the tang to become dislodged and the wearers foot Would slip, which may cause an accident. From a comfort standpoint, the leg strap element must be so constructed that it will serve to hold the climber in proper relation to the leg of the wearer as well as to absorb the strains and transmit them to the leg with the least amount of discomfort. Padding of the strap which surrounds the leg is insucient in itself to absorb the pressures, since the strain at its source is not, in the conventional climber, distributed or directed to the strap pad in the most effective manner. Tightening of the leg strap to more firmly hold the leg iron in position tends to stop the blood pressure and the wearer is caused discomfort. If the leg strap is too loose, the leg iron is allowed to shift angularly and the stirrup tilts to a degree where the instep of the wearer bears down on the tilted edge of the stirrup, increasing the unit pressure on the instep and thus causes fatigue and discomfort. With these problems in mind, I have devised a climber which has for its prime purpose or object, to stabilize the relationship of the leg iron, tang, stirrup and the leg strap elements by mounting the leg iron in the leg strap element in a limited, free movement manner so that after the tang has entered the wood, the wearers leg can move angularly without disturbing the relation of the tang to the hole in the wood. By this freedom of the leg, the wearer is permitted to so place his instep on the at or wide portion of the stirrup to distribute the pressure load over a greater area. Further, by this free movement, the back thrust or torque normally encountered is reduced to practically zero.

Another object is to provide a climber, the leg strap of which may be readily adapted to many of the conventional leg irons without alterations or additions to the leg iron.

Another object is to provide a climber, the leg strap element of which may be interchangeable with either the right or left leg, whereby the unitary structure may be a universal unit instead of right and left hand, which reduces the cost of manufacture and eliminates the necessity of selecting the right or left unit as may be required.

Another object is to provide a climber, the leg strap element of which is so constructed that the leg strap proper need not be tightened beyond the amount required to hold the leg iron in position without pressing the leg sufficiently to stop the blood ow in the wearers leg.

With these prime objects and advantages, and others, which will become evident in the disclosures set forth in the following description, I now refer to the specifications and the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my climber as worn on the leg of a user.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the device shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper p0rtion of the device, the view being taken on the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the device, the view being taken on the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In the drawing, the climber, generally indicated by the numeral 10, comprises a leg iron 11, and a leg strap element 12, the leg iron 11 having a vertical body portion 13, a tang or spur 14, a stirrup 15, the upturned end 16 of which is provided with a loop 17 for adaptation of a conventional foot strap 18.

The leg iron 11 is further provided with a loop 19 for adaptation of a conventional leg strap 20, the latter having the usual buckle 20a.

The leg strap element 12 comprises a metallic body 21 of relatively bandlike material, preferably a semi-spring metal, the front portion of which is bent in an arc to t the fore part of the leg and which portion terminates in a larger arcked portion extending only a short distance toward the rear of theleg of the wearer. The portion adjacent to the inside of the leg of the wearer is also of a larger arc than that of the front portion, the degree of bend almost approaching a straight line tangent to the front arc, but extending considerably farther toward the rear than does the outside portion. To this body 21, I fasten a band or facing 22 of leather or similar material, by means of rivets 23. To provide further cushioning I provide a paid 24 of felt or similar material, this pad being fastened to the band 22 by means of cement as indicated at 25 and 26. Other methods may be employed t0 x the band to the pad with equal security. At the inside extremity of the band 22, I provide a leatherlike loop 27, it being iixed to the band 22 by rivets 28. The metallic band 21 is further provided with loops 29 and 30, and while these loops are shown as being a separate member and riveted to the band, they may be an integral part of the band much like the loop 19.

The inside terminal of the band 21 is bent to form a hook 31, its inner surface 31a and the side 29a of the loop 29 forming a channel in which the leg iron 11 may have limited movement as shown by the broken line position of the portion 13 of the leg iron. See Fig. 3.

Passing the strap 20 through loop 29, loop 19, loop 27, around the wearers leg and then through loop 30, provides circumferential fastening means for the climber to the wearers leg, this means being usually placed just below the knee. Also, the passing of the strap 20 through the loop 19, contines the leg iron 13 to limited travel and prevents the leg iron from untimely withdrawal from the leg strap element. Further, this arrangement also permits the removal or assembly of the leg iron without the use of a tool. Obviously, the structure is such that two identical leg strap units may be used in pairs, that is, either one will be interchangeable with the other.

Since many conventional leg irons are provided with the loop 19, the leg strap element may be applied to existing leg irons without changes of any kind.

Having disclosed the objects, function, and advantages, the various parts embodying the structure may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention, in view of which I claim:

1. In a linemans climber, a leg iron having a loop thereon; a removable leg strap adapted to pass through said loop, a leg strap element formed as a band shaped to extend partially around a leg, a hook on one side of said band for releasably engaging said leg iron, and a facing mounted on said band with a loop thereon near said hook adapted to receive said leg strap therethrough, a loop on said band adapted to receive said strap and spaced from said hook a distance only slightly greater than the width of said leg iron and cooperating with said hook for limiting the movement of said iron relative to said band when said strap is placed around said leg strap element passing through all of said loops and over said hook.

2. In a linemans climber having a leg iron with a loop thereon and a removable leg strap, a leg strap element comprising, a band shaped to extend partially around a leg, a hook on one side of said band for releasably engaging said leg iron, and a facing mounted on said band with a loop thereon near said hook adapted to receive said leg strap therethrough, a loop on said band adapted to receive said strap and spaced from said hook a distance only slightly greater than the Width of said leg iron and cooperating with said hook for limiting the movement of said iron relative to said band when said strap is placed around said leg strap element passing through all of said loops and over said hook.

3. In a lineman's climber, a leg iron having a loop thereon; a removable leg strap adapted to pass through said loop, a leg strap element formed as a band shaped to extend partially around a leg, a hook on one side of said band for releasably engaging said leg iron, and a loop on said hand adapted to receive said strap and spaced from said hook a distance only slightly greater than the width of said leg iron and cooperating with said hook for limiting the movement of said iron relative to said band when said strap is placed around said leg strap element passing through all of said loops and over said hook.

4. In a linemans climber, a leg iron having a loop thereon; a removable leg strap adapted to pass through said loop, a leg strap element formed as a band shaped to extend around the front of a leg from the outside to the inside thereof, a hook on the outside end of said band for releasably engaging said leg iron, engaging means mounted on said band adjacent said hook for removably securing said strap to said band, and a projecting member on said band spaced from said hook a distance only slightly greater than the width of said leg iron and cooperating with said hook for limiting the movement of said iron relative to said band when said strap is placed around said leg strap element passing through said loop and secured to said element by said engaging means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,505,360 Lowery Aug. 19, 1924 2,016,249 Bashlin Oct. l, 1935 2,297,136 Detering Sept. 29, 1942 2,604,250 Trimble Iuly 22, 1952 2,607,522 Bennington Aug. 19, 1952 

